Use supplements to supplement the diet, not replace it, and get your calcium from a variety of both plant and animal dietary sources. Food sources have the benefit of providing other synergistic, protective nutrients along with calcium.

Choose your calcium supplement carefully – do not choose it based on price alone. Be aware that when it comes to pills, not all calcium supplements are created equal and many are not in a form that can be well absorbed. Look for a chelated form of calcium, such as calcium citrate and make sure your supplement also has magnesium and other trace minerals. Some people may also benefit from vitamin K. It is the synergistic effect of these other nutrients that allows calcium supplements to be of benefit.

Be sure you are getting just the right amount of healthy fat and protein for your size and activity level. Either too little or too much is not good for your bones.

Take steps to ensure your diet is not excessively acid-forming. If it is, this can rob your bones of calcium.

Get your serum 25 (OH) vitamin D levels tested periodically and supplement accordingly. Insufficient levels of vitamin D are implicated in osteoporosis as well as a host of other chronic diseases.

If you have digestive issues, get help to fix them. Even minor symptoms of poor digestion can be a sign that you are not effectively absorbing the essential nutrients from your food and supplements. Some dietary modifications and the use of some additional targeted digestive aids may be helpful.

Get your serum homocysteine levels tested periodically. Increased blood levels of this harmful compound is detrimental to your bone health and can be remedied by a combination of nutritional supplements, including folic acid.

Get enough, and the right type, of physical activity. Proper exercise – both weight bearing and muscle strengthening – is a major contributor to bone mineral density.

Big Study Confirms Calcium Pills Alone Will Not Prevent Osteoporosis

The recent news coverage of the results of the WHI study on calcium supplementation and bone health is highly misleading. This includes the 3/16/06 New York Times article entitled “Big Study Finds No Clear Benefit of Calcium Pills.”

The media’s sound-bite approach to nutrition is a shameful public disservice and perpetuates the simplistic view that foods and nutrients are either all good or all bad for all groups of people. In fact, since this story came out, many of my patients have asked if they should stop taking supplements altogether.

A more responsible summary of the study published in the 2/16/06 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, is that it did find a significant hip fracture benefit for certain subgroups, namely – those who were not taking personal calcium supplements, those who adhered to the treatment (59% did not), and those over 60 years old.

But, the results were not as significant as they might have been since, as the editorial published with the study points out, “…several aspects…may have reduced the chances of detecting a benefit…”

Many participants in both the treatment and control group were already taking calcium supplements, resulting in a mean calcium intake at baseline of 1150 mg, more than the intervention dose of 1000 mg.

During the study, participants in both groups were allowed to continue to take these supplements and medications, which could seriously confound the study.

50% were on HRT, and some were also taking osteoporosis medications.

75% were overweight or obese, another factor thought to protect bones.

Thus, the total hip fracture rate among controls was about half of what was expected for a control group, making the difference in fracture rates between the two groups even less distinct.

Furthermore, on average, both groups were clinically deficient in vitamin D – at a level unlikely to be corrected by the amounts of vitamin D used in the study. Adequate magnesium was not addressed at all, and that is also vital for bone metabolism and calcium absorption. If all of that is not enough, the form of calcium used in the study was calcium carbonate, shown to be less well absorbed that some other forms of calcium. (These factors may help explain the increased risk of kidney stones found in the study. A well-designed calcium supplement that is better absorbed may actually reduce the risk of kidney stone.)

Perhaps the most important message to be gleaned from this study is that women need to do more than take calcium pills to prevent the development of osteoporosis. But, this is not news, so it was ignored by the media in favor of the more sensationalized message.

About Me

I am a holistic nutritionist who focuses on treating the underlying cause of your health issues -- not just the symptoms. I am committed to helping you take control of your own health so that you can make long-term dietary & lifestyle changes at the pace that is right for you. I provide customized treatment based on sound scientific research -- helping you separate marketing hype from science. I believe in the power of simple modifications to get significant results. In addition, my nutrition action plans will complement your doctor's medical plans. I work with people of all ages on a variety of health issues including: digestive disorders, women's issues, cardiovascular conditions, immune disorders, weight management, chronic conditions, general and preventive care.